Tom Izzo experienced his 27th sad locker room to end the season over the weekend, but this one handled the loss to UConn a lot better than he expected and he said that he was impressed by his guys.
Michigan State lost in the Sweet 16 this past weekend, one year after losing to Auburn in the Elite Eight. Two straight years of having a team good enough to make the Final Four falling short a weekend early. It's a lot better than the previous few years of first-weekend exits, but it still didn't make anyone feel better about not winning it all.
Izzo knows that this is now the most important offseason of his coaching career. If that sounds over-reactionary, you can thank the 2027 Final Four destination. If the Final Four wasn't in Detroit next season, I'd be willing to hold off on that narrative, but I truly believe it.
The Hall of Famer has been doing everything in his power to win No. 2 and he has for the past 25 years, but he knows that 2027 might be his best chance to have a storybook ending.
Though I don't actually believe that him winning a national title with Michigan State in Detroit next season would lead to his retirement. No, I actually think it would make him want to coach even longer to try and win No. 3 and No. 4. It's unlikely all of that happens, but winning No. 2 is very possible and thanks to the disbursement of talent via NIL and the transfer portal, teams aren't as scary at the top as they were 5-6 years ago.
There are a select few "elite teams" every year and Izzo needs to be one of those in 2026-27.
Would a national title end Tom Izzo's career?
Although I think it would be the perfect ending to a Hall of Fame career, I just think that Izzo has way too much left in the tank and a national title would only drive him to want more.
Think of it this way: Izzo said that the only way he's retiring is if he no longer feels passion for his job or if he feels like he's stealing money. If he wins a national title, the love for his job will only increase, and he would be doing the exact opposite of stealing money.
If Izzo makes it to Detroit next year with a loaded team led by Jeremy Fears Jr. and won it all, I think that would take a ton of pressure off his shoulders and he'd lock in and chase No. 3.
Fears would graduate after the 2027-28 season and Carlos Medlock Jr. will be in East Lansing for at least a couple of years, so maybe after they both leave he'll consider retirement.
Until then, I don't think there's a chance he considers it within the next 2-3 years.